The clock on the cracked wall ticked loudly, a rhythmic reminder that time was running out.
Elias sat on a dusty couch, elbows on his knees, staring at the briefcase Dr. Cray had placed gingerly on the coffee table.
Beside him, Sophia leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a silent, worried expression on her face.
Callum paced the room, muttering under his breath.
Sophia Marquez:
Age: 25
Profession: Undercover Intelligence Operative
Skills: Linguistics, disguise, negotiation.
Personality: Clever, sarcastic, fiercely loyal.
Appearance: Olive-toned skin, long black hair tied into a braid, sharp brown eyes, slender frame, always dressed practically (hoodies and jeans).
Callum Reed:
Age: 28
Profession: Hacker and Tech Specialist
Skills: Cybersecurity, surveillance, mechanical repairs.
Personality: Nervous energy, socially awkward, quick-witted.
Appearance: Pale, messy blonde hair, glasses always slipping down his nose, wiry build.
And Elias?
Elias was becoming something else entirely.
A survivor.
A rising force.
---
Dr. Cray finally spoke, voice shaking.
"They're coming. They'll never stop."
Elias frowned.
"Who's they?"
Cray opened the briefcase, revealing files labeled Project Phoenix.
Sophia leaned in, reading upside down.
"Is this... bioengineering?"
"Not just any bioengineering," Cray whispered. "It's gene editing. At a scale never seen before."
Callum stopped pacing.
"You're saying... they could design humans?"
"Not design," Cray corrected. "Control."
The room fell silent.
Outside, sirens wailed in the distance — but it wasn't police.
Elias's watch buzzed.
[TASK: Protect Dr. Cray and Project Phoenix documents for 72 hours.]
[Reward: Charm Level Increased + Minor Regeneration Ability Unlocked.]
He exhaled slowly.
This wasn't just a mission anymore.
It was a war for the future.
---
Elias stood alone outside the safehouse, the night air cool against his skin.
He watched the stars, feeling the weight of it all.
The lies.
The danger.
The invisible lines being drawn.
Sophia joined him, tossing a small pebble into the street.
"You're carrying too much, Eli," she said softly.
He shrugged.
"I can handle it."
"You don't have to handle it alone," she said, nudging him gently.
A rare smile tugged at Elias's lips.
Maybe it was the new charm boost from the watch.
Maybe it was just... her.
For a moment, things didn't feel so heavy.
---
Across the city, in a darkened skyscraper, a woman in a crimson dress stood before a large monitor showing Elias's face.
Her name was Valerie Blackthorn.
Valerie Blackthorn:
Age: 34
Profession: Corporate Executive / Covert Operative Leader
Skills: Manipulation, assassination coordination, business tactics.
Personality: Cold, calculated, ruthless.
Appearance: Smooth dark skin, tall and commanding, short platinum-blonde hair, icy blue eyes, flawless makeup.
She turned to her subordinates, voice like velvet over steel.
"Bring me Elias Gray," she said. "Alive."
"And if he resists?" one asked.
A slow, cruel smile curved her lips.
"Make him beg to come."
---